Denham Springs and Live Oak High Schools face off on field they share

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DENHAM SPRINGS - Two bitter high school rivals faced off on the football field Thursday night, despite spending months in the same campus.

LIke any other football game, this one had cheers and jeers. But even fans on opposite sides for reasons to get along.

"Live oaks definitely has bragging rights, and this year, we're going to have 365 days of bragging rights," Live Oak High School Principal Beth Jones said. His wife, Kelly Jones, is the principal of Denham Springs High School.LOHS and DSHS have been under the same roof since after the August floods. They say playing on the same field has been a blast.

"I think our kids have fed off the rivalry both being on the same campus," Kelly Jones said, "and it's been a lot of fun tonight."

The fans have also noticed the camaraderie between the two rivals, even though, they say, that's a little weird.

"It's a little bit of a weird situation," Bill Lawson said, "but a lot of these kids grew up together and know each other from camp. It's a really good situation."

Denham Springs High School will likely stay at Live Oak until January at the soonest. That hospitality in the aftermath of tragedy has not gone unnoticed.

"Something that definitely needs to be mentioned is how great the Watson community is," Kelly Jones said. "They've opened up to our Denham Springs High School, to our students, our teachers, and for that we'll always be grateful."

Fans, parents and students say they hope to keep up this friendly rivalry even after Denham Springs goes back to their home during the year.